Badge and means for attaching same to garments



F. T.-AUSTIN.

BADGE AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAME T0 GARMENTS.. I

APPLICATION FILED 0Ec.20, 1919.

1,356,483. Patented 00th 19,1926.

ounce STATES FRED AUSTIN, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

BADGE AIND MEANS FOR ATTACHING' SAME TO GARMENTS.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

Application filed December 20. 1919. Serial No. 346,422.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I FRED THADDEUS AUs- TIN, of the United states Army, stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in the county of vented certain new and useful lmprovements in Badges and Means for Attaching Same to Garments; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in badges, and comprises providing a suitable framework on which the fabric bearing the insignia is mounted, and so arrangin the framework that this fabricmay be quickly and securely attached thereto and quickly removed therefrom as for purposes of applying a new fabric or reversing the same so as to show the unsoiled surface or the like.

My invention is also intended to provide a frame which may be securely attached to the garment of the wearer without likelihood of accidental displacement.

The invention is intended to apply to badges of various kinds which are intended to be attached to any of-the outer garments of the wearer such, for instance, as a blouse, coat, or the like.

The invention is especially adapted to badges in the bar form, such ascampaign' badges, and its use in this form is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the several views, and

in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the complete badge showing the fabric only for attaching the badge to the garment of the wearer.

Figs. 1 and 1 show theeyes, used for attaching the badge to the garment of the wearer, spaced apart as when in use.

Fig. 2 is a rear View of the badge, and shows the locking bar in the open or disengaged position; with the eyes in engagement with the tongues or hooks.

Fig. 3 is a similar View to Fig. 2, and shows the locking-bar in the closed or engaging position; but with the eyes omitted. Fig. 4 shows a section through the frame along the line 00 -00 of Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

piece, or socket piece, of the frame as de-.

tached; and

Comanche and State of Oklahoma have in-- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the back piece, or clamp piece, of the frame as detached, with the locking bar secured thereto.

Suitable eyes are rovided to be secured to the garment to w ich the badge is to be attached, such, for instance, as metal eyes 1, which may be sewed to thegarment and spaced apart the required distance, as shown 1n Figs. 1 and 1. These eyes may be in the form of small flat metal plates or loops, of any suitable material, fastened to the garment in any convenient way, as by sew mg.

The frame proper comprises a front piece or socket p1ece'6, over which the fabric 11, showing the various ribbons or other insignia which make up the badge, is stretched. This socket piece 6 is in the form of a trough with side walls 7 and end lugs 8, and is preferably slotted at one end, as at 10, for reasons hereinafter to be described. I

3 represents the back piece or clamp adapted to fit snugly, but with a slight clearance on opposite sides, between .the side walls 7 and the end lugs 8 of the socket piece 6, and stamped out of this clamp piece the locking bar 2 having clips or catches 5 at each end thereof. These clips are preferably made integral with the bar which may be stamped out fiat and then the ears bent over as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. These ears and also the tongues 4 being of thin sheet metal, the locking bar will be held in frictional engagement when in the closed position as shown in Fig. 3. This bar serves not only as a locking bar to prevent'the ton nos 4, or either of them, from slipping out o the eyes 1, but the bar also serves as a spacing and stiffening member, while tending to keep the badge securely attached to the garment of the wearer. I

To assemble the parts of the badge,- the cloth, ribbon or other fabric constituting the outer face of the badge, is pressed over the front and sides of the socket piece 6 with the free edges projectin into the space between the side wall 7, t en the clamp piece 3 is forced down into the socket piece,

clamping the side edges of the fabric strip, then the. end lugs 8 are clenched to secure the clamping piece 3 in place. The clamp ing piece 3 has attached thereto the look ing bar 2, as shown in Fig. 6, so that when the clamping piece is inserted as just described, and the end lugs 8 bent over, the badge is ready to be applied to the garment of the wearer, which has previously been provided with suitable eyes To attach the badge to the garment, insert the first tongue gt in the corresponding eye, then bend the cloth of the garment slightly and insert the other tongue, then stretch the cloth to the normal position and swing the locking bar from the position in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the badge will be secured to the garment and held against accidental dis placement therefrom.

In order to apply additional indicia to the badge, as, for instance, stars for citations or major actions, such as are indicated at 12, the socket piece 6 is preferably slotted at the proper position, as at 10,see Fig. 5, so as to permit the insertion of the shank of the stars, for attaching the stars 12 or other indicia.

When the fabric surface of the badge is soiled or worn and it is desired to remove same, it is a simple matter 'to bend up the lugs 8, pry out the clamp piece 3, and remove the fabric strip; and then either reverse the same, thus exposing the comparatively clean surface, or substitute a new strip therefor; then force the clamp piece 3 back in place in the socket piece 6, and finally clench the lugs 8 in place, thus restoring the parts to. the initial position.

'VVhile I have shown the invention as applied to an ordinary military service badge worn by officers in the Army and Navy, it will be evident that it may. be applied to badges of various kinds, such, for instance, as may be used by policemen, clubs, societies, and organizations of various kinds, and I do not mean to limit the invention to any particular form, color, or character of fabric carried on the front of the frame; nor do I mean to limit the invention to the shape or proportions shown in the drawings, as these may be varied at will.

It will also be obvious that various other modifications might be made in the herein described device which could be used without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not mean to limit the invention to'such details, except as particularl pointed out in the claims.

aving thus described my invention, what I claim and,desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a badge provided with a flexible fabric face, the combination with a socket piece having a trough shaped. recess therein with substantially vertical side Walls and end lugs adapted to be clenched over, of a clamp piece fitting snugly in said trough shaped recess and clamping the ends of the fabric in said socket piece, the said clamp piece having oppositely disposed tongues projecting inwardly therefrom near the opposite ends thereof, and a locking bar centrally pivoted to said .clamp piece and carrying clips at its ends adapted to simultaneously engage said tongues; substantially as described.

2. In a badge provided with a flexible fabric face, the combination with a socket piece having a trough shaped recess therein with substantially vertical side walls and end lugs adapted to be clenched over, of a clamp piece fitting snugly in said trough shaped recess and clamping the ends of the fabric in said socket'piece, the said clamp piece having oppositely disposed tongues projecting inwardly therefrom near the'opposite ends thereof, and a locking bar made of sheet metal having 0 positely disposed ears at each end thereof bent over to form oppositely disposed clips, said bar being centrally pivoted to said clamp piece, and said clips being adapted to simultaneously engage said tongues, substantially as described.

3. In a badge provided with a flexible fabric face, the combination with a socket piece having a trough shaped recess therein with substantially vertical side walls and end lugs adapted to be clenched over, of a sheet metal clamp piece fitting snugly in said trough shaped recess and clamping the ends of the fabric in said socket piece, the

said clamp piece having oppositely disposed tongues. integral therewith and stamped out therefrom, projecting inwardly therefrom near the opposite ends thereof, and a locking bar centrally pivoted to said clamp. piece and carrying oppositely disposed clips at its ends adapted to simultaneously engage said tongues, substantially as described.

FRED T. AUSTIN. 

